California Department of Fish and Game is misusing money

DFG audit gets no stamp of approval
Report: Account's unused balance at more than $7M

By Peter Ottesen
Record Staff Writer
November 11, 2008 6:00 AM

A state audit has confirmed what a leader of the California Striped Bass Association has been claiming for years: The Department of Fish and Game is misusing money collected by the Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp that is required of anglers who fish the Bay-Delta and its main tributaries - the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Feather, Merced, Stanislaus and Mokelumne rivers.
A scathing report issued by the Bureau of State Audits said, in part, "While Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp revenues and interest have totaled $8.6 million since the inception of the program in 2004, the amounts approved for project funding have totaled only $2.6 million, and actual project and administrative expenditures totaled just $1.6 million.

"As of June 20, 2008, the stamp account had an unspent balance of more than $7 million, although a portion was committed to approved projects that have not yet been funded. Thus, individuals who purchase the fish stamp are not obtaining the full benefit of the fees they are required to pay."
Barry Canevaro, a CSBA leader in Isleton, said Fish and Game does what it wants with the money, including using it for non-enhancement purposes.

"We (CSBA) or the public has no control what they do with the money, if anything," Canevaro said. "It's a sore subject. We call it the 'rip-off stamp' because Fish and Game is taking money for no reason at all. They certainly are not helping to put more salmon, steelhead, striped bass or any other kind of fish in the water, or improve habitat.
"It's bogus."

Information: bsa.ca.gov.

This makes me wonder if it won't be more of the same when the federal license goes through.